Global, regional, and national burden of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children: Epidemiological trends analysis from 1990 to 2021

Yuyuan Hu; Yongping Liu; Jieting Fu; Yong Liu; Haiying Wang; Ying Song

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.111356

Global, regional, and national burden of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children: Epidemiological trends analysis from 1990 to 2021

iScience. 2024 Nov 23;27(12):111356. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111356. eCollection 2024 Dec 20.

Authors

Yuyuan Hu^{1

2}, Yongping Liu^{3

4}, Jieting Fu¹, Yong Liu¹, Haiying Wang¹, Ying Song^{1

5

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, China.
² Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, China.
³ Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, China.
⁴ Department of Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, China.
⁵ Laboratory for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, China.

Abstract

Children are the main susceptible group to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and the lack of sufficient data has impeded a comprehensive understanding of its global impact. This study analyzed the annual numbers and rates of incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of childhood ALL from 1990 to 2021, disaggregated by age group, gender, and socio-demographic index (SDI) at the global, regional, and national levels, based on the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database. Although global deaths and DALYs rates for childhood ALL showed declining trends, the incidence rate fluctuated. Incidence rates in high SDI regions were higher, but deaths and DALY rates were lower. Moreover, the burden in Sub-Saharan Africa and other low SDI countries was growing. The burden on boys has been higher than on girls in this period. This study underscored improving prevention and treatment measures are critical to control the persistent global burden of children ALL.

Keywords: Health profession; Immunology; Medical science.